Commercial Lawyers in Adelaide for Business

Commercial Lawyers in Adelaide

Most of Adelaide’s commercial law firms have offices in the CBD, and many act for South Australian family businesses as well as larger companies. Day to day work often covers contracts, business sales, company and trust structures and commercial leases. Some firms also have tax and dispute teams, which helps when one matter touches more than one area of law.

Choosing a firm often comes down to fit. A practice that already acts for businesses of your size and industry may need less time to understand your problem and your goals. Ask who will handle the work each week, and whether the firm can bring in property or litigation lawyers if the matter grows.

Cowell Clarke
Level 9, 63 Pirie Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8228 1111

From offices on Pirie Street in Adelaide and in Sydney, Cowell Clarke runs a corporate and commercial team that works on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital raisings and ASX listings. It also prepares shareholder, director and joint venture agreements and acts in disputes between shareholders. Clients range from private businesses to ASX listed and public companies. Separate teams cover banking and finance, tax, employment, IP and IT and dispute resolution, so a commercial matter can draw on other areas when needed.

Mellor Olsson Lawyers
Level 6, Pirie House, 89 Pirie Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8414 3400

Mellor Olsson Lawyers works with South Australian businesses of all sizes, from small family businesses to large corporations, as well as their advisers. Its commercial practice covers business structuring, supply, service, distribution and licensing contracts, as well as mergers, acquisitions and business sales. The team also handles breach of contract claims, debt recovery and shareholder disputes, using mediation and arbitration where they suit. Commercial leasing, intellectual property, employment law and succession planning are part of the work, with separate property and litigation teams in the firm.
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DMAW Lawyers
Level 10, 81 Flinders Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8210 2222

A South Australian commercial firm on Flinders Street, DMAW Lawyers advises private family owned businesses, not for profit organisations, ASX listed entities and large local companies. Transactional work includes mergers and acquisitions, business and asset sales, joint ventures and due diligence. The firm also drafts and negotiates distribution, outsourcing and other commercial agreements, and advises boards and in house legal teams on governance and compliance. Tax, property, disputes and workplace law are handled within the same firm.
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Finlaysons Lawyers
Level 7, 43 Franklin Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8235 7400

Finlaysons Lawyers has offices on Franklin Street in Adelaide and in Darwin. Its corporate team works on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, foreign investment approvals, share transactions, shareholder agreements and employee share schemes. It also advises on Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules matters, managed investment schemes and the duties of directors. Clients include private and public companies, not for profit entities, incorporated associations and boards, in industries such as energy, banking, defence and agribusiness.
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Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
76 Light Square
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8212 1077

Tindall Gask Bentley (TGB Lawyers) has an office on Light Square in the city and others across suburban and regional South Australia. Its business and commercial lawyers draft contracts, act for buyers and sellers of businesses and advise on business structures. The team also recovers debts, runs commercial disputes and litigation and acts for a number of South Australian associations and not for profit organisations. Landholders facing compulsory acquisition of their land can get advice on their rights and on negotiating compensation.
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Andersons Solicitors
69 Franklin Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8238 6666

Andersons Solicitors works from a head office on Franklin Street in the CBD, with other offices in the suburbs and regional SA. Its commercial and business lawyers act for sole traders, small businesses and larger organisations on business structures, trusts, companies and partnerships. Work also includes buying and selling businesses, partnership and shareholder agreements, commercial contracts and commercial leases for landlords and tenants. The team handles debt recovery, building and construction disputes and other commercial litigation as well.
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Johnston Withers
11 17 Sturt Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8231 1110

Founded in 1946, Johnston Withers has an Adelaide office on Sturt Street and others across regional South Australia. Its commercial and property lawyers prepare partnership, shareholder and business sale agreements and advise on structuring and succession. They draft and negotiate retail, warehouse and farming leases for landlords and tenants, and act for lenders, brokers and borrowers on mortgages and loans. The team also handles commercial disputes and state taxes such as stamp duty and land tax, along with wine industry matters.
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Legal costs and your rights as a client

The Law Society of South Australia says you have the right to negotiate a costs agreement with a law practice, and you can take it away and get independent advice before you sign. You can also ask for an itemised bill, which the Law Society says must be provided within 21 days of your request. If you are unhappy with your costs, you may apply to the Supreme Court within 6 months to have them adjudicated, or raise an overcharging complaint with the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner.

Commercial work is often billed by the hour, although some firms quote a fixed fee for set tasks such as a shareholder agreement. A short written brief of what you need can make quotes easier to compare.

Getting ready for the first meeting

Bring copies of the documents that matter, such as the contract, lease or company constitution, along with any emails that show what was agreed. A timeline of key dates often saves time, particularly in a dispute where deadlines may apply. If you are buying or selling a business, your accountant’s figures and a list of assets and staff can help the lawyer scope the work.

If you are not sure where to start, the Law Society’s See a Lawyer referral service can match you with practices by area of law and location. The Society notes that it does not endorse the practices it lists, so it still pays to ask each firm about its experience.